The United States has repatriated a Chinese businessman on a
list of the country's most wanted fugitives.
Yang Jinjun, who
is suspected of corruption and bribery, had been in the United States since
2001, according to a Friday statement from China's Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection.
The repatriation
comes days before President Xi
Jinping embarks on a visit to the United Statesand suggests that Washington is
willing to help Beijing in its corruption crackdown.
Since coming to
power, President Xi has netted hordes of government officials and company
executives suspected of corruption. Some critics say it's merely politics and
that Xi is removing his opponents, but the crackdown has continued to widen.
In April, China
published a list of 100 most wanted fugitives and
has launched campaigns dubbed "Operation Foxhunt" and "Operation
Skynet."
The "most
wanted" list includes photos and identification numbers of former local
government officials, police officers, accountants and more, who are suspected
of taking bribes, embezzling funds and laundering money.
Yang's forced
return marks the first time that China has succeeded in getting the United
States to comply since it published the list.
Twelve others
have been repatriated from other countries.
While the U.S. doesn't have an extradition treaty with China,
the State Department can still return fugitives to China.
"We must be
satisfied that an individual extradited from the United States to another
country would receive a fair trial and not be subject to torture or other forms
of mistreatment in that country," a department spokeswoman said in March.
According to Interpol, Yang is 57 years
old and from Wenzhou, eastern China. It said he is wanted on charges of
embezzlement.
China is also
keenly seeking the return of another businessman, Ling Wangcheng, reported byThe New York
Times to be in the
U.S. and on the list of targets.
Ling is the
brother of Ling Jihua, a former presidential aide who stands accused of accepting
bribes, stealing state secrets and keeping mistresses.
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